VISUAL COMMUNICATIONS TECHNOLOGY

The Visual Communications Technology–Graphic Arts & Printing Program specializes in courses in electronic publishing, print administration, electronic imaging, image assembly and lithographic press.

Degree: Associate in Applied ScienceHEGIS Code: 5009Curriculum Code: 2455Campus Location: SouthEngineering & Technologies DivisionPre-Admission Recommendations: HS or HSE (High School Equivalency Diploma)Recommended High School Courses and/or Experiences: science, math, keyboarding, social science, English.Career Opportunities/Further Education: Printing and graphic arts firms, advertising and publish-ing firms.

The Visual Communications Technology; GraphicArts and Printing curriculum uses the latest tech-nology available to transform ideas into digital andprint media. We use the most advanced communi-cations tools to prepare you for a career in the thirdlargest high tech manufacturing industry in Amer-ica. Whether it's traditional "ink on paper" print-ing in the form of brochures, newsletters, books,magazines and newspapers, or electronic "digitalmedia" such as web pages and other multimediaproducts used to entertain and inform throughoutthe world.

The Visual Communications Technology; GraphicArts and Printing Degree curriculum offers special-ized courses in electronic publishing, digital imag-ing, lithographic press and bindery, printadministration, web and multimedia. We prepareyou for a wide range of career opportunities in thismultifaceted industry from the creative and artistic toadministrative, managerial and professional throughjob planning and production.

To enhance graphic arts and printing courses, se-lected English, math, social science, humanities andscience electives are required.

VISUAL COMMUNICATIONS TECHNOLOGY— GRAPHIC ARTS AND PRINTING

Program Description

Department NotesStudents are encouraged to become active in the Images magazineand/or newspaper. Any student in this program, with or without rea-sonable accommodations, must be able to:

• visually identify errors, color correction or related proofing mis-takes associated with various printing or design related func-tions;• stand, sit or walk for long periods of time to operate machinerysuch as a press, folder, cutter, computer, or other related press orbindery equipment; and • lift approximately 20-30 pounds for loading, unloading, orstacking of paper or related supplies.

Program CompetenciesUpon graduation with an Associate in Applied Science degree in Visual Communications Technology – Graphic Arts & Printing, the graduate will be able to:

• recognize the product mix, production sequence and variety ofequipment unique to the printing/publishing industry and un-derstand its operation as both a service and manufacturing in-dustry/career;• understand and apply a variety of measurement systems including points and picas, to a diversity of job specifications/products in the graphics industry and apply correct mathemat-ical processes to specific procedures;• identify basic design principles and the historical influence ongraphic design including the fundamentals of typography as theyrelate to print media for a variety of products and page formatsincluding single/double-sided pages, folds, columns, single andmultiple page layouts, as well as single and multiple colors;• apply related techniques such as markup specifications, principles of layout, the understanding of paper, page anatomy,copyright laws and proofreading when applicable to the pub-lishing and printing process;• gain competency in operating a computer including related inputand output devices, as well as a variety of current versions of in-dustry-related software for design, page assembly, photo/ imagemanipulation, proofing and HTML web publishing;• understand the differences between spot and CMYK colors,graphic file formats, PostScript and TrueType, and the factorsinvolved in outputting to a PostScript level output device;• gain competency and learn how to apply quality control tech-niques to different levels of the production process at all timesincluding proofreading, page proofs, densitometer, visual checksand color bars;• be informed of safety regulations and requirements that affectdifferent segments of the publishing/printing process;• understand basic management functions involved in a printingcompany, including the principles of estimating and productionmanagement;• understand and execute basic as well as advanced impositionprocedures;• produce mock-ups and color proofs with proper imposition,pagination and directions for single and multiple pages and col-ors as well as separations;• understand and apply the principles of trapping, chokes andspreads to the printed product;

• understand the theory of color and its relationship to the elec-tronic process;• identify the unique terminology associated with the various aspects of the digital and print medic industries;• understand the relationship and importance of pre-flighting toelectronic output and apply pre-flighting techniques to jobs pre-pared for output;• understand and demonstrate how to output to plate, both man-ually and electronically, for a variety of linear and digital outputdevices;• understand the differences and behaviors of output colorant in-cluding light, toner, ink jet, transfer film, ink and how to mix a va-riety of specific colors to create spot as well as CMYK colors;• understand the principles of both lithographic and digital pressoutput and how to prepare each device for proper output for avariety of substrates, page impositions and colors as well as applyproper maintenance procedures;• operate and be familiar with basic bindery and finishingprocesses;• present and describe how to produce a variety of typical prod-ucts in the printing industry that reflect skills in the areas of elec-tronic publishing, design, imaging and/or output; and • gain competency in the basics associated with producing personalized printing based on database development, manipulation and preparation of variable data printing.

CURRICULUMTotal Degree Credits: 64.0

First Year, Fall SemesterGA 101 Orientation to Graphics (2 cr)GA 102 Publishing I Basics (2 cr)GA 105 Lithographic Press I (2.5 cr)GA 125 Create With Illustrator® (2.5 cr)GA 131 Photoshop® I (2 cr)EN 110 College Composition (3 cr)MT 116 Algebra in the Real World (3 cr) or any Math higher

than MT 116

First Year, Spring SemesterGA 121 Publishing With InDesign™ (2 cr)GA 124 Lithographic Press II (2 cr)GA 126 Visual Design Basics (2.5 cr)GA 141 Photoshop® II (2 cr)EN 111 Composition and Interpretation of Literature (3 cr)______ Humanities Elective (3 cr)______ Social Science Elective (3 cr)

Second Year, Fall SemesterGA 133 Lithographic Press III (2 cr)GA 134 Print Administration/Quality Control (3 cr)GA 135 Digital and Variable Data Printing (1 cr)GA 231 Prepress Fundamentals (2 cr)GA 232 Digital Imaging I (2.5 cr)EN 201 Writing for Graphic Publications (3 cr)

SUNY Erie is committed to equal opportunity in educational programs, admissions and employment. It is the policy of SUNY Erie to provide equal opportunity for all qualified applicants, students and employees,and to prohibit discrimination. Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, as amended, prohibits discrimination based on race, color, religion, national origin, age, sex (including pregnancy), disability, sexual orientation,marital status or veteran status. Discrimination of this nature is unacceptable and impermissible conduct which will not be tolerated.

SUNY Erie deplores such conduct as an abuse of authority. Allegations leading to conviction can result in suspension or termination of employment. Related inquiries should be addressed to: Title IX, ADA and Section 504 Compliance Coordinator, 851-1119. 1/2018

Second Year, Spring SemesterGA 140 Publishing IV Web Basics (3 cr)GA 143 Internship (3 cr)GA 144 Multimedia(2 cr)GA 241 Digital Imposition & Workflow (2 cr)GA 242 Digital Imaging II (2.5 cr)______ Science Elective (3 cr)

Graphic Arts Elective: *GA 145 Web Page Design with Dreamweaver (3 cr)GA 146 Intro to 3D Modeling and Animation (3 cr)GS 111 College Success Skills (3 cr)

* Note: A Web Page Design Certificate is also available requiring spe-cific Graphic and Liberal Arts courses. Students should consulthis/her academic adviser for designated sequencing of requiredcourses. Students may elect to transfer credits from the Degree program to the one-year Web Page Design Certificate program tosupplement their degree with a certificate through additional study.

Note: This is a recommended sequence. Student should consulthis/her academic adviser. Adobe Acrobat, Illustrator, InDesign, Pho-toShop, Flash and DreamWeaver are trademarks of Adobe Systems,Inc. Quark, QuarkXPress, QuarkXTensions, and Xtensions aretrademarks of Quark, Inc., Reg. U.S. Pat. & Tm

(716) 851-1322 • www.ecc.edu